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LMA Long Range Plan
Approved by the Lake Moraine Association (LMA) Board of Directors (BoD) on 8/20/26
MISSION STATEMENT
It is the mission of the LMA and the Aquatic Tax District to improve the water quality of the lake through weed control, waste/pollutant management, education, and other methods while at the same time maintaining the recreational use of the lake, encouraging water safety, and protecting the environment.
I. STRENGTHS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
1. Financial structure in place.
a. Separate budgets for LMA and the Aquatic Tax District
2. Organizational structure in place with the LMA and the Aquatic Tax District
a. Board of Directors and LMA membership
3. Lake Ecology and Lake Management Plan
a. Natural Upper Lake filtration
b. Adequate water supply and streams that can be monitored for volume, quantity, and quality
c. Erosion controls in place with weirs and soil erosion collectors
d. Septic System Pumping/Incinerating toilet/composting toilet reimbursement policy in place
e. State and local organizations available, including:
i. New York State Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA)
ii. Madison County Federation of Lake Associations (MadFOLA)
iii. Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM)
iv. Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
v. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
vi. Upstate Freshwater Institute (UFI)
vii. New York State (NYS) Canal Corporation
viii. State University of New York (SUNY) Oneonta’s Biological Field Station (BFS)
f. CSLAP Program (Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program) to monitor water quality.
g. E-coli testing.
h. Monitor nutrients entering lake
i. Monitoring harmful algal blooms in concert with pertinent agencies
j. High-Water Plan in place
k. Boating Safety courses are available as noted on the website
l. Violators of Wake Board Boat Ban passed by Madison Town Board will be reported to Town of Madison Codes Enforcement or Madison County law enforcement
4. Beautiful scenery
5. Swimming, sailing, fishing, boating
6. Good facilities for group meetings
7. Regular and informative LMA Newsletters
8. Institutional and Business Interests, including Colgate University, the Hamilton Inn, Mitchell Point, and the White Eagle Resort and Conference Center (including the Appley Center and Luna by the Lake restaurant).
9. Good relationships with town, county, and neighbors
10. Good relationship with NYS Canal Corporation, owner of the dam, responsible for water level control
11. Active Social Committee, including July 4th Boat Parade, Ladies Of the Lake, picnic, concerts, socials
12. Welcome Wagon Committee
13. Active membership and participation in NYSFOLA and MadFOLA, and attendance at their conferences, allow opportunities to improve access to grant programs, collaborate with state and county agencies, and address common lake issues
14. LMA Website: https://www.lakemoraineny.org/ Facebook page, Constant Contact e-mail system
15. Communication Coordinator
II. CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS
1. Siltation of lake lends itself to weed growth
2. Large watershed lends itself to nutrients leaching into the lake
3. Shore erosion
4. Septic systems leach sewage and nutrients into lake water
5. Increased presence of harmful algal blooms
6. Many high-powered boats and personal water craft (PWCs) affect safety and noise level
7. Lack of enforcement for safe boating rules
8. The dam reconstruction
9. DEC jurisdictional determination classifies the lake as a wetland which requires Article 24 permit for algal and weed treatments
III. MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Many areas of action in this section are long underway by the LMA
1. IMPROVE WATER QUALITY
a. Weed and Algae Control—using nutrient control, mechanical harvesting, hand pulling, and/or herbicides/algaecides
b. Monitor Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and work with relevant agencies to identify causes and reduce their frequency
c. Continue banning wake board boats with ballasts that potentially bring invasive species from other lakes
d. Educational and Scientific Programs
i. Publicity - website and newsletter, General Membership meetings
ii. Maintain emergency communication with lake residents
iii. Instruction on individual weed harvesting
iv. Use of weed mats
v. Lake users monitor lake for evidence of invasive species and algae 2
vi. Maintain Stewardship program at boat launch to monitor and educate boaters: CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY
vii. Active CSLAP program
viii. Take note of dissolved oxygen readings
ix. Test Sediments
x. Continue phosphorus and nitrogen testing of inlets
e. SEPTIC SYSTEM CONTROL
i. Distribute free educational material
ii. Encourage cooperation
iii. Encourage property owners to make improvements to their septic systems
iv. Continue rebates for pumping septic tanks (fifty percent of cost of septic clean out once a year up to $350, with BoD-approved exceptions in special circumstances). All riparian property owners are included for the rebate even if they are not members of the Lake Moraine Association.
v. Encourage modern septic control systems (chemical/incineration/composting toilets and septic tanks) through additional rebates (30% of the cost of a new or updated septic system for an owner-occupied property up to $1500, with BoD approved exception in special circumstances). This increased rebate can include labor costs and is valid for any projects completed between 1/1/25 and 12/31/27. After 2027, the amounts are subject to change by the BoD.
f. SEDIMENT CONTROL/EROSION PREVENTION
i. Pursue funding sources for sediment control
ii. Continue to work with agencies to improve watershed practices
iii. Build, construct and maintain retaining ponds, catch basins, and weirs
iv. Improve stream side plantings
v. Investigate new methods of sediment collection
vi. Educate through Newsletters, General Membership meetings, MadFOLA and NYSFOLA programs
vii. Continue to enforce ban on wake board boats to reduce shore erosion
viii. Continue to publicize and enforce No Wake Zones
g. MAINTAIN RECREATIONAL USE OF THE LAKE
i. FISHING
1. Work with DEC to document and analyze fish species/populations in the lake
2. Investigate stocking of walleyes (LMA) after 2026-2027 drawdown
3. Stay informed regarding NYS tiger muskie stocking
ii. SAFETY
1. Distribute NYS Boating Equipment laws and requirements in every spring newsletter and via the website
2. Remind boaters of the need to take Boater Education Course
3. Maintain signs at boat launch listing criteria for safe swimming and boating including local laws and regulations
4. Maintain ongoing communications with the sheriff’s office 3
5. Encourage strict enforcement of the Wake Board Boat ban to protect the shoreline, docks, and rafts as well as provide safe swimming, boating, and kayaking
6. Encourage responsible boating, skiing, and tubing to protect the shoreline, docks, and rafts as well as provide safe swimming, boating, and kayaking
7. Encourage widespread understanding of the danger of harmful algal blooms (HABs).
iii. COMMUNICATIONS
1. Revise and periodically distribute pamphlet describing the workings of the Lake Moraine Association and Aquatic Tax District
2. Periodically distribute lake use safety laws and guidelines
3. Communicate high-water plan as needed
iv. OTHER
1. Coordinate lake level with Canal Authority
2. Continue social activities
3. Work with property owners and public authorities to secure a walking path around the lake
IV. ACTION STEPS
1. The whole BoD should review this long-range plan annually in the spring
2. The BoD should communicate the Boating Safety Law in spring of every year
3. The LMA Welcome Wagon should distribute a Boating Safety Pamphlet including regulations to new lake residents
4. The BoD should maintain weir clean-out of impacted areas along East Lake Road, Cooks Cove, and Lake Moraine Road
5. The BoD should educate residents about the necessity to obtain permits for shoreline improvements
6. The BoD should develop and maintain relationships with the NY State Canal Corporation, Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District, Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP), NY State Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA), Madison County Federation of Lake Associations (MadFOLA), and Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM)
7. The BoD should update and publicize the High-Water Plan
8. The BoD should vigorously educate all lake residents about the urgent need to understand and maintain septic systems
9. The BoD should consider planning a youth fishing derby
10. The BoD should investigate large-scale watershed improvement projects (working with relevant agencies and organizations)
11. The BoD should encourage the election of members to the Town of Madison Town Council and the Town Planning Board to represent Lake Moraine
12. The BoD should encourage ever-greater participation in the LMA